title: Deep eutectic solvent-assisted synthesis of biodegradable polyesters with antibacterial properties.
abstract: Bacterial infection related to the implantation of medical devices represents a serious clinical complication, with dramatic consequences for many patients. In past decades, numerous attempts have been made to develop materials with antibacterial and/or antifouling properties by the incorporation of antibiotic and/or antiseptic compounds. In this context, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are acquiring increasing interest not only as efficient carriers of active principle ingredients (APIs) but also as assistant platforms for the synthesis of a wide repertoire of polymer-related materials. Herein, we have successfully prepared biodegradable poly(octanediol-co-citrate) polyesters with acquired antibacterial properties by the DES-assisted incorporation of quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salts into the polymer network. In the resulting polymers, the presence of these salts (i.e., choline chloride, tetraethylammonium bromide, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, and methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide) inhibits bacterial growth in the early postimplantation steps, as tested in cultures of Escherichia coli on solid agar plates. Later, positive polymer cytocompatibility is expected to support cell colonization, as anticipated from in vitro preliminary studies with L929 fibroblasts. Finally, the attractive elastic properties of these polyesters permit matching those of soft tissues such as skin. For all of these reasons, we envisage the utility of some of these antibacterial, biocompatible, and biodegradable polyesters as potential candidates for the preparation of antimicrobial wound dressings. These results further emphasize the enormous versatility of DES-assisted synthesis for the incorporation, in the synthesis step, of a wide palette of APIs into polymeric networks suitable for biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049-Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García-Argüelles
authors.forename: M Concepción
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: María C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuste
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rojo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: del Monte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002460:Cell Line; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D011091:Polyesters; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012997:Solvents